Analog Devices sues Itasca's Knowles Electronics over patents
Dover Corp.'s Knowles Electronics unit was sued by semiconductor maker Analog Devices Inc. for allegedly infringing four patents for microchip technology.
Analog Devices, based in Norwood, Massachusetts, contends Knowles, of Itasca, should pay unspecified damages after a jury trial, according to a Nov. 3 federal court complaint in Wilmington, Delaware.
"Analog is being, and will continue to be, seriously damaged and irreparably harmed" unless Knowles is prohibited by court order from infringing the patents, awarded since 2000, the company said.
Dover, based in New York, bought Knowles, a maker of hearing aid components and mobile-phone microphones, in 2005 for $750 million. Dover's products include refrigeration equipment and cases used in supermarkets. It reported $7.56 billion in sales last year.
Analog, which makes chips for Nintendo Co.'s Wii video game, Ford Motor Co.'s air-bag deployment systems, and cable-TV set-top boxes, logged $2.58 billion in sales last year. The company said Aug. 18 that its third-quarter gross margin fell to 54.1 percent from 61 percent a year earlier.
Dover's treasurer and investor relations director, Paul E. Goldberg, didn't immediately reply to phone and e-mail messages seeking comment on the lawsuit.
Dover rose $1.35 to $40.05 in New York Stock Exchange composite trading at 10:37 a.m. Analog rose 64 cents to $26.77.
The case is Analog Devices Inc. v. Knowles Electronics LLC, 1:09-cv-00826, U.S. District Court, District of Delaware (Wilmington).
To see the patents, click: 6,147,528; 7,364,942; 7,220,614; and 6,675,140.